GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Mark

Mark 9:30-37

Jesus and his disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee,

but he did not wish anyone to know about it.

He was teaching his disciples and telling them,

“The Son of Man is to be handed over to men

and they will kill him,

and three days after his death the Son of Man will rise.”

But they did not understand the saying,

and they were afraid to question him.

They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house,

he began to ask them,

“What were you arguing about on the way?”

But they remained silent.

For they had been discussing among themselves on the way

who was the greatest.

Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them,

“If anyone wishes to be first,

he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.”

Taking a child, he placed it in their midst,

and putting his arms around it, he said to them,

“Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me;

and whoever receives me,

receives not me but the One who sent me.”

Path of Unity.

Jesus speaks to His disciples about the greatness of His mission, a supernatural mission, no less than the salvation of the world through the cross. Jesus reaches the highest dignity of humanity by giving His body for me. In contrast, the disciples wanted to make themselves great by the path of domination, imposing themselves to others. We clearly see how this attitude causes division among the disciples, while Jesus’s attitude creates an alliance, a union stronger than death. So strong that nothing will separate us from Him. The question now is: Do I want to provoke separation with my spouse by the path of domination, or union with him/her by the path of service and the cross? I decide to love.

Applied to married life:

Beatriz: Lord, I do not feel valued in what I do as a wife and mother. But I know these are temptations, that myself wants to be exalted by the path of vanity, and I do not want to be led by that temptation. I prefer to be humbled with You through the giving of myself on the cross, as a wife who gives herself, offering her sacrifice for the salvation of her husband and children. I am with You, Lord, I follow You.

Juanjo (Beatriz’s Husband): I, Lord, ask forgiveness for not accepting the gift You give me through my wife, and I thank You for her because she teaches me to love. I ask You to teach me to be more humble.

Beatriz: No, Juanjo, you are a wonderful gift to me. These are temptations that I must overcome. I love you.

Juanjo: I love you.

Mother,

How ugly it is for brothers to try to impose themselves on one another. It must be a great pain for you to witness these divisions because we want to make ourselves greater than others. Only God exalts, and He exalts those who humble themselves. How beautiful is the path of God’s love. Praise be to God.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY

From the Gospel according to Mark

Mark 9:14-29

As Jesus came down from the mountain with Peter, James, John

and approached the other disciples,

they saw a large crowd around them and scribes arguing with them.

Immediately on seeing him,

the whole crowd was utterly amazed.

They ran up to him and greeted him.

He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?”

Someone from the crowd answered him,

“Teacher, I have brought to you my son possessed by a mute spirit.

Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down;

he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid.

I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable to do so.”

He said to them in reply,

“O faithless generation, how long will I be with you?

How long will I endure you? Bring him to me.”

They brought the boy to him.

And when he saw him,

the spirit immediately threw the boy into convulsions.

As he fell to the ground, he began to roll around

and foam at the mouth.

Then he questioned his father,

“How long has this been happening to him?”

He replied, “Since childhood.

It has often thrown him into fire and into water to kill him.

But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

Jesus said to him,

“‘If you can!’ Everything is possible to one who has faith.”

Then the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe, help my unbelief!”

Jesus, on seeing a crowd rapidly gathering,

rebuked the unclean spirit and said to it,

“Mute and deaf spirit, I command you:

come out of him and never enter him again!”

Shouting and throwing the boy into convulsions, it came out.

He became like a corpse, which caused many to say, “He is dead!”

But Jesus took him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up.

When he entered the house, his disciples asked him in private,

“Why could we not drive the spirit out?”

He said to them, “This kind can only come out through prayer.”

The word of the Lord

Facing the mystery

There are moments in life when everyone face the mystery. Why is this? A question without an answer. But why do I need to understand the why of God’s plan? Perhaps because I don’t believe He loves me? Perhaps because I don’t believe in His power? Why is this? Answer: Does it really matter if I understand it or not? This situation is still in my Father’s control. This is the correct answer. He loves me, He is very great, and He is always under control. So… relax. Feel how your Mother embraces you and tells you in your ear: relax, relax… And so, I will live this situation with faith: I believe, Lord, but help my lack of faith.

Applied to married life:

Lucia: The Lord calls me to this path. I see it clearly.

Paco: (Praying to the Lord) Lord, I don’t understand this path. I don’t see it at all. Why do you make me go through this situation? I don’t understand what is this about; you haven’t finished uniting us in a conjugal spirituality that allows us to live our faith together. So, what is this about? (A few days later…)

Lucia: What do you think about what I told you the other day about that path the Lord is calling me to?

Paco: I think that if you see it clearly, then go ahead. I will try to be with you with all my heart. (And so this husband jumped into the void out of love for his wife without understanding anything, with his trust placed in God).

Mother,

We believe, but help our faith. Sacred Heart of Jesus, in You we trust.

Gospel

Gospel

‘You are Peter, and I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.’
Matthew 16:13-19

At that time: When Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ He said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter replied, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.’

The Gospel of the Lord

Can You Imagine Not Having Her?

Today in Spain, we celebrate the Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter. It is awe-inspiring to think that God entrusts men with the governance of the Church and the interpretation of the Gospel through the person of the Pope. At the same time, we recognise the Pope as the shepherd of the Church to whom we owe our fidelity.
How essential it is to have the Church’s doctrine as our guiding reference, ensuring we do not stray from the right path.

Applied to Married Life:

Jonathan: It’s not about what you think or what I think—it’s about what the Church’s doctrine teaches.
Stephanie: How wonderful it is to be united in truth and in God’s will. That way, no division can come between us.
Jonathan: What a blessing it is to have the Holy Mother Church. Can you imagine not having it? We would be at the mercy of different interpretations, constantly swayed by opinions. Let’s pray for the Pope, who carries God’s mandate to lead and guide the Church toward Him.
Stephanie: Wow… What an incredible gift—and what an immense responsibility. We must pray for him a lot.

Mother,

Thank You for being the Mother of the Church. We submit ourselves to her. Blessed Mother Church!

Gospel

‘Whoever loses his life for my sake and for the gospel will save it.’
Mark 8:34-9:1

At that time: Calling the crowd to him with his disciples, Jesus said to them, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.’ And he said to them, ‘Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.’

The Gospel of the Lord

The Weeble-Wobble Monster

The undefeated champion? Self-love.
Denying ourselves is one of the hardest things to do. Sometimes, it feels like we’re making progress by God’s grace, but then—out of nowhere—it rises again, reclaiming its throne.
Self-love is like a weeble-wobble monster—it may seem to fall, but it always bounces back.
The only way to defeat it is through love. Only with God’s love can it be conquered. When I love God and my spouse more than myself, I will be a true disciple, because I will be able to give myself for them on the cross—out of love—and follow the Lord.
Do you want to conquer your self-love? Love the Lord more. Love your spouse more.

Applied to Married Life:

Nathalie: Colin, do you love me more than you love yourself?
Colin: I’d like to say yes, but the truth is, there are still times when I put myself first. There are moments when I think of myself more than I think of you. And there are still times when I hurt you in order to defend myself, Nathalie.
Nathalie: I feel the same. Sometimes, I manage to put my self-love aside, but when I get really annoyed… well. So, what do you think we should do?
Colin: I think we need to stay faithful in prayer every day and practice small acts of self-giving to deepen our love for each other.
Nathalie: Alright. Count me in!

Mother,

We want to be disciples of Your Son. Please, help us to follow Him. We love Him, but we want to love Him more. We love each other, but we want to love each other more. Thank you, Blessed Mother.